Liverpool have entered the race to sign teenage Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi in a potential £60m deal, though Arsenal and Paris St-Germain currently lead the pursuit.
The 18-year-old recently announced himself on the global stage during the 2026 World Cup.
He delivered a standout performance against Brazil in Morocco’s opening group stage draw.
A superstar in the making.
That was the verdict of pundit Joe Thomlinson following the prospect’s commanding display against the South Americans.
Record-breaking fee required
Lille are expected to demand a fee in excess of £60m for their prized academy graduate.
Meeting that valuation would make the Moroccan the most expensive teenager in world football.
The figure would eclipse the £53m Chelsea paid Southampton for Romeo Lavia in the summer of 2023.
Despite his youth, the highly-rated talent has already amassed nearly 100 first-team appearances for the French side.
Anfield rebuild under Iraola
Liverpool are embarking on a major transitional phase following the appointment of manager Andoni Iraola.
The Spanish coach is tasked with overhauling a squad reeling from several high-profile departures.
Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson, Ibrahima Konate and former boss Arne Slot have all left the club.
The Merseysiders finished 25 points behind Premier League champions Arsenal last season and require significant reinforcements.
Midfield overhaul on the horizon
Securing central midfield options is a priority for the club amidst mounting speculation over current players.
Curtis Jones is attracting strong interest from Serie A, while World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister could also depart.
Manchester City and Manchester United are similarly monitoring Bouaddi to bolster their respective engine rooms.
Alongside their midfield pursuits, the Reds remain confident of striking a deal for 19-year-old RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande.
Veteran midfielder Luka Modric will lead Croatia into their opening 2026 World Cup fixture against England on Wednesday, continuing a remarkable career shaped by his nation’s resilient history.
The 40-year-old Real Madrid legend approaches 200 international caps as his side prepares for the 21:00 BST kick-off.
It is a milestone that once seemed impossible for a child displaced by the Yugoslav Wars in the early 1990s.
Rising from a war-torn childhood
The six-time Champions League winner lived as a refugee in Zadar hotels after his grandfather was tragically killed by Serbian forces in 1991.
Forced to flee the Velebit mountains where he herded goats, the young playmaker honed his skills playing football with other displaced children.
Former youth coach Romeo Jozak remembers a skinny teenager who was fiercely protective of his flowing locks.
“Any pass he was going to do, it was a flick of the hair. We even had a couple of fights.”
Jozak admits that he eventually forced the future Ballon d’Or winner to cut his hair to improve his focus on the pitch.
Defying the footballing odds
The small Balkan nation, boasting a population of under four million, has consistently outperformed larger countries on the global stage.
After gaining Uefa admission in 1993, a strong generation featuring Zvonimir Boban and Davor Suker reached the Euro 96 quarter-finals.
They famously finished third at the 1998 World Cup in France, establishing a pedigree that the current generation has brilliantly maintained.
Under their current captain’s leadership, the European side reached the 2018 World Cup final and secured another third-place finish four years later.
A nation built on resilience
Jozak believes that the historical conflict played a significant role in developing the deep-rooted drive seen in the modern squad.
“Some had relatives killed in the war and those things stay inside of you. You take it out of your genes and use it when you need it the most.”
The former coach added that patriotic pride remains a foundational pillar for any player pulling on the famous chequered shirt.
As England prepare for Wednesday’s clash, they face an opponent whose motivation has always extended far beyond the football pitch.
Belgium’s Wout van Aert will miss next month’s Tour de France after sustaining an infected elbow injury during a training crash.
The 31-year-old is a crucial support rider for Visma alongside four-time Grand Tour winner Jonas Vingegaard.
He suffered the initial wound after falling in training prior to last week’s Tour Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes stage race in France.
Hospital treatment and slow recovery
According to a statement from his team, the laceration developed an infection that failed to heal within the expected timeframe.
The Belgian was subsequently admitted to hospital to have the wound cleaned and spent one night under medical observation.
“The Tour de France is one of my main goals every year,” said the Visma rider.
“Unfortunately, a crash during training has put a spanner in the works and the injury to my elbow has worsened and has still not healed sufficiently.”
Crucial blow for Visma’s ambitions
The former Paris-Roubaix victor had been enjoying excellent form this season.
He recently defeated Tour de France champion Tadej Pogacar in April’s prestigious cobbled classic.
Often regarded as the nearly man in a golden era of exceptional cycling talents, his absence will significantly impact his squad’s tactical plans.
Visma will announce a replacement rider on 23 June.
This year’s Tour de France is set to begin in Barcelona on 4 July.
Former Arsenal striker Alan Smith has urged the reigning Premier League champions to sell Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli and Ben White this summer to facilitate a squad rebuild.
Mikel Arteta’s side ended their long wait for a top-flight crown last season by finishing seven points clear of Manchester City.
However, the Spanish manager is reportedly planning a significant dressing room reshuffle to ensure his team successfully defends their title in the upcoming 2026-27 campaign.
Several established first-team players have been linked with exits, paving the way for potential lucrative arrivals at Emirates Stadium.
Smith backs healthy squad shake-up
Ex-Gunners forward Smith believes offloading certain title winners is necessary, but stressed that Leandro Trossard must be retained.
“The only one from that list I wouldn’t want to see go is Leandro Trossard. I think he’s had a great season.”
Alan Smith
The television pundit added that the Belgian international is a major fan favourite who offers crucial tactical flexibility by operating both out wide and centrally.
Jesus and Martinelli tipped for exits
Discussing the potential departures, Smith noted that Brazilian winger Martinelli has endured a frustrating few years in north London.
He also anticipates that English defender White could seek a move if new reinforcements arrive at the club.
“I can see Gabriel Jesus going as well, certainly if Arsenal buy another striker which it looks like they’re trying to do.”
Alan Smith
Smith suggested the former Manchester City forward would be the very first player the club attempts to offload during the transfer window.
New arrivals on the horizon
The North London club are expected to be highly active in the transfer market as they look to strengthen their newly crowned championship squad.
Aston Villa winger Morgan Rogers is reportedly a primary target following a standout domestic season.
The reigning champions also continue to be heavily linked with Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez and Roma midfielder Manu Kone.
Reports in Italy suggest that Arsenal have already agreed personal terms with Kone, though they must still negotiate a fee in the region of £43m.
Danny Rohl has left his position as Rangers manager after just eight months to become the new head coach of Austrian side RB Salzburg.
The Ibrox club confirmed the 37-year-old’s departure on Wednesday, stating that news regarding his successor will follow in due course.
Hearts manager Derek McInnes is widely expected to take the vacant role as the Glasgow side prepare to appoint their third boss in a single year.
A swift exit after domestic struggles
The German tactician originally replaced Russell Martin in October and initially steered his squad into a tense three-way title fight.
However, a disastrous post-split collapse resulted in a third-place Scottish Premiership finish behind rivals Celtic and Hearts.
Being eliminated from both domestic cup competitions by Old Firm adversaries further compounded the misery of a trophyless campaign.
Rangers chairman Andrew Cavenagh had previously offered public backing to the former Sheffield Wednesday boss at the end of the season.
“I’d like to thank Danny for his service and commitment to Rangers,” Cavenagh said.
“He and his staff put in a significant amount of hard work during his time in charge, which we are greatly appreciative of.”
“We wish them the best of luck moving forward.”
Returning to familiar surroundings
The departing manager now returns to the Red Bull football network where he began his coaching career alongside Ralph Hasenhuttl at RB Leipzig.
He takes over an Austrian outfit that recently recorded their lowest league finish in two decades by securing a disappointing third place.
Salzburg sacked their previous manager Daniel Beichler last month after a dismal 14-game spell in charge.
Both the Austrian club and the Light Blues will now enter the Europa League at the third qualifying round stage next season.
McInnes emerges as prime candidate
The focus in Govan immediately shifts to finding a permanent replacement who can successfully rebuild the shattered squad.
McInnes represents an obvious choice given his extensive managerial experience and deep understanding of the Scottish top flight.
The highly regarded Scottish manager is widely viewed as a seasoned professional who possesses the relentless work ethic required to succeed in Glasgow.
Meanwhile, the outgoing coach concludes his turbulent Scottish adventure with a record of 22 wins, 11 losses, and seven draws across 40 fixtures.
Cristiano Ronaldo will begin his sixth and final World Cup campaign when Portugal face DR Congo on Wednesday, as the legendary forward chases an elusive global trophy and several historic records.
The 41-year-old enters the global showpiece knowing this tournament represents a final opportunity to secure international football’s greatest prize.
Despite boasting five Champions League titles and five Ballon d’Or awards, the famous gold trophy remains absent from his extensive collection.
Chasing legendary milestones
The former Real Madrid superstar will join long-time rival Lionel Messi as the only players to feature at six World Cups.
Should the veteran forward find the net in North America, he will become the first male player to score in six different editions of the competition.
He currently sits on 22 tournament appearances, trailing the Argentine playmaker’s record tally of 26.
The Seleção captain could surpass that appearance record if his nation reaches the latter stages and he features in every fixture.
Age-defying records in sight
The prolific goalscorer is also pursuing milestones related to his remarkable longevity in the professional game.
The Al-Nassr striker could become the oldest player to feature in a World Cup final, potentially shattering Dino Zoff’s benchmark of 40 years and 133 days.
He also has the opportunity to eclipse Nils Liedholm as the oldest goalscorer in a final, an accolade that has stood since 1958.
Away from tournament-specific achievements, the legendary attacker remains firmly focused on reaching a staggering 1,000 career goals.
He requires just 27 more strikes to achieve that landmark, meaning retirement from club football may not immediately follow his international swansong.
The FIA is reviewing its Formula 1 engine performance findings after Red Bull questioned a ruling that grants upgrade opportunities to rival manufacturers.
Under the new Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO) system, the sport’s administrators evaluated the pecking order of the 2026 power units.
Initial assessments concluded that the Milton Keynes-based squad produced the benchmark internal combustion engine.
Consequently, opposing manufacturers are permitted to introduce mid-season improvements to close the performance gap.
Upgrade distribution sparks debate
A document circulated to teams revealed that Mercedes will receive one upgrade after being judged more than two per cent behind the class leaders.
Ferrari, Audi and Honda have been granted two development opportunities for falling more than four per cent adrift.
Manufacturing their own powertrains for the first time in the sport’s history, Red Bull will receive zero developmental concessions.
The governing body has yet to officially ratify these results ahead of next week’s Austrian Grand Prix.
Verstappen questions performance data
The ADUO framework exclusively measures the internal combustion engine, ignoring the electrical components that generate nearly half of the total power output.
Reigning world champion Max Verstappen expressed surprise at the classification during the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix.
The Dutch driver highlighted that Mercedes-powered cars have triumphed in six of the opening seven races this season.
Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies confirmed the constructor has opened a dialogue with officials to clarify the situation.
Where we certainly would like to have a deeper conversation is because we do not see one single data sample that indicates that we would have an advantage over our friends at Mercedes.
Mekies acknowledged the team agrees with evaluating only the internal combustion element, but insists a common-sense approach is required to ensure accuracy.
Discussions between administrators and all power unit manufacturers are expected to continue in Spielberg.
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes says the memory of the late Diogo Jota will inspire Portugal during their World Cup campaign, nearly a year after the forward’s tragic death.
The former Liverpool attacker and his brother, Andre Silva, were killed in a car accident last summer.
Roberto Martinez’s side begin their tournament against DR Congo in Houston.
Fernandes insists his close friend remains a constant presence in the thoughts of the national squad.
A lasting legacy within the squad
“It’s very important for us,” Fernandes said.
“He was in the group for so long and I played with him through the under-21s.”
The two players emerged through the international youth ranks together before regularly facing off in the Premier League.
“Everyone has spoken about him. It will always be good words about him,” Fernandes added.
“He was a great team-mate, very down to earth and a great person for the country.”
Dreaming of a maiden global title
“He’s still part of our group – and always will be. So will his brother be, too. He will also be in our memories.”
The Selecao have never won international football’s biggest prize.
However, they enter the 2026 tournament boasting a highly talented roster capable of challenging for the trophy.
“The best team is the one that wins the tournament, and I hope at the end we can claim to be that,” the playmaker stated.
Focusing on the immediate challenge
“I do believe we have a very talented squad with great individual quality and beyond that, we are a very cohesive team and united.”
Fernandes believes this deep sense of unity is what makes the current iteration of the national team so special.
“Our dream is to be there. I think dreaming is not forbidden,” he explained.
“But our main focus is to start well and focus on the first game in hand.”
The squad carries a heavy weight of expectation given their individual brilliance, a reality the captain readily acknowledges.
“If we really want to reach the top, we have to not look too far ahead,” Fernandes concluded.
“There is a responsibility, because this team has so many talents, we just have to be decisive to reach the top.”